The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-10
A NOTABLE MUSICAL EVENT.
TINE Production OF wA0NEH's "sIEG-
FRIED0 AT THE METROPOLITAN

Set with Great Desuty and Greeted with
Deiisht sy Disciples or wssner-Aivary
at MS Beot--Lehnann's Fresh Triunph.
Mr.. Stanton has not kept the public walt
ing long time for the production OF new
opera, The rehearsals Of "Siegfried," which
were necessarily long and cxhaustinR, have
been pushed with all possible vigor. and thus.
in the second week Of the season. we have be-
fore us this important representation, proba-
bly, the most noteworthy event Of tho season.
unless It's follower In the "Nibelungen Ring"
the "a0tterdhmmerung." should later In tho
winter be performed.
Probably one Of the first questions naturally
asked with regard to the new opera will be.
How does 1t compare with the other works Of
the great master. with TannhEuser." Lohen-
grin" the "Walknre." and the others with
which we arc famillsr2 and We would answer
that for the earnest student and lover Of
tho highest in music. "Siegfrisd" Is pro:
foundly interesting. Perhaps. 1t were
not inappropriate even to mention Wagner's
works with any such hippant expressions
as light or popular, We would be able
to make o distinction between "Lohengrin,"
"Tannhauser." -" Rienzie." and tho "Fliegende
HollAnder." and to name these earlier operas
as possessing moro qualities that would relate
them to this class OF compositions Naturally
this Is 80. since Wagner's lator style OF writing
was so much more free and 80 stamped with
the peculisritiss Of his original genius and his
oddly-invented theories. "SieGfried" is full
OF those themes. each belonging to separate
parsonage, or thought, or emotion. which.
weaving and INTERVENING with curious COM
plexity. form the marvellous web OF harmony
that glitters and shines. dazzling the ear with
splendor, as cloth OF gold would glitter bofore
%ho Ia for ofo Off Tod
motive. the Sword motive, tho Dragon mo-
tive, and, in short, bold and easily dis
tinguished personal motive, for every one Of
the characters, either acting or mentioned In
tives, which serve to represent individuals.
and the less evident ones, such as the forging
the %9ye Of me as
are also such obscure themes as tho motive Of
treaty. the motive Of copdemnation. and lin
.Gotterdammerung" the motive OF Brann-
It Is not difacult to SEQ how significant every
bar OF the orchestral portion OF the operS must n
kept up BY the recurring themes. bringing up
sons. or explaining the workings OF thought or
Of emotion In the minds OF tho characters OF
The character Of the scenery In "siegfrled"
is much like that which Is set for the Wal
knre." With the mighty sweep Of Wasners
from the most IDEAL legends and portray his
heroes In grandest outlines. he thrusts aside
all earthly narrow confines, and puts his scenes
a ss' Garth Nhrs
about; he scars to the highest mountain tops,
and In this way he sets the key for that exalted
frame of mind into which he wishes to place
The stage is beautifully set at the Metro
sunshiny top Of tho peak, xhereon lies Britain:
hide in her fire-encircled Sleep, Tho effect Of
lights in tho scenes Is varied and peculiar,
having all gradatio1s from the most ,poetical
liant air Of the heights.
The dresses are, Of course: very ptctureoaue.
lines 81 soSss es ss
resented by Alvary. Is beautiful. active.
ton at sight. In this splendid part Aivsry hss
an opportunity to show how great an artist he
is He not only is able to cone with IT, Inn
durance Of singer, but he infuses into 1t q
life in action, and wealth of delicious tone
that raises the part into the splendid prom
lehman docs not Come upon the stage until
there Is snonsh voice power and st.ndenr %
than one Whole opera. Many interesting books
might be written about Warmers works; As
Shakespeare has been discussed and explained.
ume should be devoted TO bis love duets"
This grand duo between Sieotried and Brt!nn-
hide Is as majestic and digntfed as the char
The other characters in the CAST were: Mime.
Ferenczy;. Wotan, FISCHER; Fatner. Elmblad;
Alberich. Won Milde; Erda. Fraulefn Brandt;
audience s' was large, attentive. ma snt6usi-
astic: encoring yociferously after the first act,
making four calls before the curtain and CIV
Ing unmistakable evidences OF pleasure during
ms nj thu